Lisarda; or, The travels of love and jealousy. A novel. In two parts. / By H.C. gent. ...

The History of the Loves of Don Roderigo and Don Pedro, to Donna Ma∣ria.

AFter your Departure, dear Cou∣sin, which being so privately, we were extreamly troubled, lest your melancholy Thoughts might have made you Injure your self, and not knowing what was become of you, the whole Town was so Con∣cern'd, they cry'd out for Revenge on the Villains who we supposed had misus'd you, and killed those that were brought home with you; but finding no Evidence against them, but their own Confessions, was, That they at the Noise coming

out of their Houses found the Mur∣derers gone, and you all on the Ground, who they suppos'd Dead; that they would have taken your Cloaths and Money, and to that end carried you to their House; be∣sides receiving a Letter from Don Fulgentio, brought by the fair Lisar∣da, that discharged them of the Mur∣der. I was going to pass Sentence on them for a years Imprisonment, when Donna Maria, whose Vassals they were, begged, or rather com∣manded their Freedom. 'Twas first here I began to Admire; but after∣wards, as I have told you, Visiting Donna Lisarda, and seeing her there, I began to Adore those extraordinary Perfections and Accomplishments I found in her: Here began I to know the Happiness of Loving, and being Belov'd; for both her Parents and she liked me, my Quality and Estate being both very great: But, Sir, Crosses are things inseparable from Love, and I must also have my

share; I had Don Roderigo Vasques for my Rival, a Man whose Tongue stands him in much stead, since without ever drawing his Sword, no Duel, no gallant Actions are per∣formed, but he makes himself the Owner, and draws all the Reputa∣tion of them to himself, and that with such Cunning and Subtilty, that long time he had undeservingly the Name of a Heroe. My Courage sufficiently known in many famous Exploits for the Service of the King, and that hath gained me this Honoura∣ble Verge, was Eclips'd by this false Light; and Donna Maria, a Woman of an He∣roick Spirit, seemed at the same time the Match was making between us, to lend him her Ear readier than to any other; such was his Cun∣ning and his Art in deceiving and in∣venting new Deceits, that I was al∣most afraid he would Cheat me of my Mistress: But one Day, it hap∣pen'd

well for me, (since no further harm was done.) We were standing and discoursing some other Gentle∣man, when news was brought us Don∣na Maria's house was in a Flame; we all ran to the Assistance of that Fa∣mily: But Gods! What Terrour was it for me to see Donna Maria in the Balcony, (the House being surround∣ed by the Fire,) begging Aid to help her from perishing; eagerly I ran through the Flame, and getting up Stairs, luckily found a Bar of Iron, with which I broke a Hole through the Wall; then snatching her up in my Arms, I carried her through that Hole, which the Fire had not yet reach'd, and gave her into her Fa∣ther's Arms. The Fright, the Noise, and Fear they were in, would not permit them to take notice of me; and I remembring her Woman was left behind, went to venture a se∣cond time, but met Roderigo bring∣ing her through the same Hole, who fearful of the Flames, had got a Lad∣der,

by which he got into the Balco∣ny to help off Donna Maria's Wo∣man; and seeing that my help was no further needed, went away about my Occasions, not to be troublesome at such a busie time. But Don Roderi∣go carried the Woman where her La∣dy was, and just come to her self, for the Smoak and Fright put her into a Swoon, in which Condition I took her, carried her to her Father, and left her: She seeing him doing that good Office to her Woman, suppo∣sed it was him that had done the same for her; and truly with the Noise and Fright, her Friends took not so much Notice as to be able to do me Justice; so that in Recom∣pence of his saving her Life, (as she suppos'd) She with her Friends Vow'd to be his; He with a feigned Modesty, said, That he truly had done nothing for their Service, at least, it was so little, as did not de∣serve Thanks from her Mouth, much less so great a Blessing as Her self;

but it was too great a Good to be refused, and that he now trusted to her Word.

The next Day it was all about the Town that Don Roderigo had ventur'd through the Fire, and rescued Donna Maria: This was every bodies story which did not a little vex me. I af∣firm'd the Action to be mine, and that he ly'd who said the contrary. Don Roderigo said, Yes it was I did it; but that with such a false Smile, such a feigned Dissimulation, and with such Equivocating words, that he own'd the Action more in his Denial than I in all my Affirmatives; but what did comfort me, was, I had a Witness in my Pocket, that though it was Inanimate, with Donna Maria I was sure would confute my Rival. Sir, it was a Ring I took off her Fin∣ger as I carried her out of the Fire; and therefore to do my self Justice, I went to give her Father a Visit, who now were all in Donna Lisar∣da's House; and desiring to see

Donna Maria, and telling her the Truth, the Ring gave it Credit, with the Promise to me she had gi∣ven to Roderigo; the story now was turn'd, and it was made known throughout the Town, how falsly Don Roderigo claimed the Honour of that Action; so that through shame he was fain to leave the Town, and retire to a Seat he has in the Coun∣try where he still continues.

Having thus ended his Story, Don Ricardo being desirous to see his Lisarda, they went together, but the Joy Lisarda had at the sight of Ri∣cardo, cannot be exprest, no more than his at the sight of her. But to be short with you, and to make an end; both his Marriage with Lisar∣da, and his Cousins with Donna Ma∣ria were concluded, and to be Cele∣brated both the Sunday following; On the Day before the Marriage, Don Enrique and Don Federico, with their Ladies Arrived, so that they

had a full House, great Entertain∣ment, and a long continued Feast for Joy, and living very lovingly and happily all the Days of their Lives.

FINIS.

Notes

• All Governours of Towns in Spain carry a Wand in token of their Office.